Wyoming federal judges recently sentenced four men for financial, firearm, drug and illegal alien crimes, according to the Wyoming U.S. Attorney's Office.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson sentenced Darren Gonzales, 43, of Cheyenne, for money laundering, drug trafficking, filing false tax returns and structuring cash transactions. Gonzales received six years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Johnson ordered Gonzales to forfeit cash and a number of properties and vehicles involved in the laundering of drug proceeds. He also ordered Gonzales to pay $78,432 in restitution -- $77,732 to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid incomes taxes and $700 to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation for money used to complete controlled purchases of cocaine and methamphetamine -- and $1,000 in special assessments.
On Nov. 9, Gonzales pleaded guilty to 10 criminal counts, most of which were related to money laundering. The government agreed to dismiss another 44 counts at sentencing, according to court documents.

As part of his plea, Gonzales admitted that he sold cocaine in Cheyenne and commingled the proceeds of his drug sales with income received from his concrete business. In doing so, Gonzales engaged in financial transactions involving more than $250,000 at a number of local financial institutions. These transactions mixed legitimate income with unlawful drug proceeds, and were intended to conceal the nature and source of the money Gonzales earned from illegally selling drugs.

Gonzales also admitted that he filed false tax returns, which significantly under-reported his taxable income, and that he structured cash transactions to avoid currency reporting requirements.

This case was investigated by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the IRS, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Johnson also sentenced Ryan Harris, 37, of Douglas for tampering with a consumer product and acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, deception, or subterfuge. He received eight months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 fine.

This case was investigated by the Douglas Police Department and the DCI.

U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl sentenced Travis Michael Dean, 30, of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dean was arrested in Greenville, Tenn. He received three years, four months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of probation, and was ordered to pay a $400 fine and a $100 special assessment.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Freudenthal sentenced Raul Flores-Sanchez, 36, of Oaxaca, Mexico, for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the United States. Flores-Sanchez was arrested in Albany County. He received time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings, and was ordered to pay $100 at the time of deportation.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.